So much fail:
Senate Democrats have no choice but to change their tone about Roland Burris becoming a U.S. senator because Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich “called our bluff” in appointing someone over their objections, a senior Democratic congressional source conceded Wednesday.
“We tried to send a political signal to Blagojevich that we would not seat someone he appointed. He called our bluff, in a reckless way,” the Democratic source said.
You mean after a near decade of rolling over for the Bush administration, someone with an iq over room temperature figured out you were bluffing whenever you took a stand on anything? And does this congressional source have the initials “HR?”
And yes, I understand you are tired of this story, but I just can’t get enough of it, because I honestly don’t recall a more ham-handed response to a political issue. I am sure some are out there, but this is just breathtaking. One crooked governor and a guy who couldn’t win statewide office in 85 attempts just made the entire Democratic DC establishment look like total morons. And what is great about this is that they still think it is “reckless,” when pretty clearly, as I stated over and over again, it was the only rational option for Blagojevich. The only thing he has going for him is the legitimate authority of his office, and these keystone cops in DC still have not figured that out.
Brian J
Yes.
Dreggas
I am just shaking my head at the douche-nozzles.
However this has me LMAO
Comrade Darkness
On the other hand, the Bush white house has finally accomplished something concrete: new white house china Albeit 7 years later than they intended. They can’t even get their shit together to avoid eating off the Clinton plates. You’d think they’d be reminded every morning… note to self, new china. Guess not.
Jay in Oregon
From that Firedoglake article:
"Playing poker with Harry Reid" is going to become my favorite metaphor for 2009. I just need to figure out what it’s a metaphor for…
Dreggas
@Jay in Oregon:
Given how often Reid bends over and takes it, it is hard to tell if it’s a card game reference or not…
Punchy
I know I’ll get dissed by fellow Illinoisians for predicting this, but I’m guessing that Blago will not be impeached. The state legislature is also pure posturing, acting as if they needed to remove him in order to get their Senator. Now, with said Senator in place, the Illy Legy will periodically bark out nastygrams in Blago’s direction, while Fitzy’s investy stews and brews all summer.
Maybe, just maybe, by August/September, something significant happens. I just dont think this has news-staying power when the market is tanking and the monthly job-shred report is hitting 7 digits.
John S.
Being in a gun fight with someone who brought a slingshot.
Xecklothxayyquou Gilchrist
I honestly don’t recall a more ham-handed response to a political issue.
L’affaire Plame comes to mind, but you’re right – this is a fiasco.
Dracula
The Chinese are moving to D.C.?
ThatLeftTurnInABQ
Nothing to see here, move along. Just the Invisible Hand of the Marketplace at work, doing what it normally does…
John S.
Well, in the case of Larry Flynt and Joe Francis, I’m not really sure anyone wants to know what the Invisible Hand is actually doing when it does what it normally does…
ThatLeftTurnInABQ
Sounds right. I bet he also beats the rap at his trial. Fitz had to shut down the investigation too soon, and got enough for an indictment but probably not enough to nail Blago in court and get a unamimous verdict out of a jury. By the time Blago’s lawyers have finished creating a smoke screen of ambiguity and confusion, it will be O.J. redux. Expect a mistrial and/or negotiating down to some rather minor charges.
Ugh
Is there anything the congress elected in 2006 can claim victory over Bush for? Anything? Helllllooooooooo?
oh really
Reid’s strategy in poker is obvious — he goes all in and then before the other guy lays down his cards, Harry folds.
Because all of Reid’s responses are equal parts buffoonery, faux outrage, and line-in-the-sand bluster, every one seems like the worst ever. If you review the details of Reid’s historic record of failure, I think you’ll find that this latest fiasco is no different, and really no greater, than all of his others.
And the only thing worse than Harry Reid is a party that would allow him to continue as its "leader."
Lemmings don’t really mindlessly jump off cliffs to their own destruction, but if they did, Harry Reid would most certainly have been born a lemming. Instead, he was born a toothless weasel.
Joshua Norton
Just when you think it’s safe to go back outside.…..
El Cid
Exactly what do you mean "look like morons"? Do you mean revealing them as the morons that they, in fact, are, or do you mean that they are other than morons and this incidence made it look as if they were?
Because I think this no more than demonstrated their total moronitude.
Dreggas
@ThatLeftTurnInABQ:
Actually I don’t feel that bad for Flynt or the ones running the operations, however I know several people who work in the industry, ie the "performers" who I do feel bad for because they didn’t make a heckuva lot in the first place, that is unless they were the Jenna Jameson types.
I just find it amusing that once the Pandora’s box of business bail-outs was opened the Adult industry shows up hat in hand. Honestly I’d bail them out faster than the financial industry because at least we can see who they’re fucking.
mapaghimagsik
I don’t understand why we just don’t replace the entire crew. Although I think our system is so screwed up that we wouldn’t replace them with something even worse.
Oh wait, never mind. They have socks!
Xecklothxayyquou Gilchrist
@oh really: Reid’s strategy in poker is obvious—he goes all in and then before the other guy lays down his cards, Harry folds.
After first making sure his opponent has a bunch of extra aces, in plain view, stuffed in his collar and cuffs.
Tzal
John – I disagree that the entire Democratic DC establishment looks like morons. This is a Senate Democrat thing, and particularly Harry Reid. Not to say that it doesn’t look bad for the Dems, but you are stretching it.
Reid needs to go though, he’s fucking useless. The thing is, who would you trust to replace him.
oh really
Feingold.
Haon123
Now I know why Republicians love punking Democrats…
Watching this happen to Harry Reid is completely hilarious.
Reverend Dennis
Anyone smarter than he is. That includes three species of rodent, most house pets and one or two root vegetables.
kay
This is not the laser-like focus on the middle class I was promised.
Why is Harry Reid talking, every day?
Nylund
I should really start betting on political issues on Intrade. With the democrats reliably caving on every single issue, it seems like there should be some easy money to make.
TenguPhule
More like being in a gun fight with someone who gives you a gun, loads and cocks it, aims it at their own head and dares you to pull the trigger.
TenguPhule
Obama’s dog. At least that way you know the only balls he licks are his own.
Thom
Reid, with the support of Obama, tried and failed. big deal. It was a try they had to make. it doesn’t make them look like morons. They took the right stand and tried to pressure blago out. It didn’t work. Big fucking deal. They still look like the good guys.
Why are you so obsessed with this? The power of "They look like idiots," which you claim is so bad, is exactly proportional to how many times bigtime fucking bloggers say they do. Jesus.
ChrisB
Bailing out the porn industry? That’s the kind of stimulus I can get behind.
And when it comes to Blago and Reid we have "reckless" vs. "feckless." Was there any doubt how this would end?
Jay B.
As a student and reluctant fan of old school corrupt pols (Godspeed, James Michael Curley) I’m starting to warm on Blago. I concede the fact that he seems as crooked and greedheaded as they come, but dammit if he doesn’t have the stones to stick it to frauds like Harry Reid and lean on Bank of America when they screwed workers in Illinois. The difference between crooks like GW and crooks like Blago — the only difference — is one gives a little back to the little people after he takes his cut.
As for Reid, I don’t see the Democrats getting rid of him, which isn’t entirely bad, seeing how Obama can roll him anytime he wants. I mean it’s not good for the republic necessarily, but if you are going to have a compliant, lickspittle Congress, it may as well be with a Democratic president
DustPuppyOI
And here is a musical interlude to go with the box.
John Cole
@Thom: Just wait. It is going to get better. The Republicans are going to use the premise Reid had as his foundational argument against seating Buriss as an excuse to not see Franken.
And no, they didn’t take the right stand. The right stance was to stfu, note you don’t think that Blago should be appointing anyone, but that you see nothing wrong with Buriss.
Zifnab
@Jay in Oregon:
Did you ever see the movie remake of "Maverick" staring Mel Gibson and Jodie Foster? At the very beginning Bret Maverick walks into a bar and tries to get in on a poker game. The other players recognize him and make him promise to "play stupid" for an hour. So he plays really stupid for an hour.
Take away the brilliant "gotcha" at the end of the scene, and that’s what I think of.
Dreggas
@John Cole:
Uh Reid already rolled over and licke McConnell’s balls on Franken too.
kay
@Thom:
I don’t know why Reid has to announce these battles. Picture the scene where Burris went to register and get credentials, had Reid just kept his mouth shut.
Reid can take these actions without an announcement. He can just do, or not do, things.
As I’m reading it, they had to seat Burris. But if they don’t want to seat him, just TRY that, without 3 days of threats. It’s as if Harry Reid thinks the talk IS the action, or the two are inextricably tied. They’re not. He can act, without any explanation at all.
He’s STILL talking. Why?
TheHatOnMyCat
This isn’t poker, it’s real life. And when Reid talked about whether Burris should be seated, he was just being theatrical. He never had any basis for denying the man the seat, and eveyone knew it, including Blagojevich.
Well, not everyone. Apparently you didn’t know it.
TheHatOnMyCat
Oh, and I can’t wait to find out what secret word has put a post into moderation this time. Is it "the"?
Oh wait, it’s a new word each week, right?
Doug H. (Fausto no more)
And if Reid says nothing, you’ll hear about ‘corrupt Democrats’ and ‘why is Reid not taking on the obviously corrupt Blago’ so often from the wingnut talking heads you could make a four DVD collection from the highlights.
The question that needs to be asked is not ‘Is Harry Reid feckless’ its ‘When do we stop worrying about what the other side thinks and just do what’s right?’
Doug H. (Fausto no more)
What Nate Silver said.
kay
@Doug H. (Fausto no more):
I just think that, ahem, actions speak louder than words. If it’s a dog and pony show sham show of force, then use that wisely, and sparingly. If it’s a real issue, then deny Burris his seat when he arrives, with a short explanation based on either the ethical side or the legal side. Pick ONE, and stick to that.
Just get your crap together before taking it public. That’s all I’m asking.
John Cole
@Doug H. (Fausto no more): RE: Nate Silver asking “But how many of you saw his dilemma coming?”
Me, on December 14th:
Me, on December 30th, THE DAY Blago announced the Buriss pick:
In the update to that last post:
Me, again on December 30th, after being sick of the idiocy from the Democrats:
So, um yeah. Some of us saw this freight train a coming down the line. Pretending there were no other options is Bush era Republican revisionism- ‘no one could have predicted…’ Bullshit. I pretty much called it from the beginning.
And the thing to remember is all of this is spawned from Democratic weakness. This whole train wreck was set in motion because the Democrats were afraid what Republicans would say.
Guess what- they are going to say it anyway, and now you have made it headline news for almost a month and given them more cards to play.
jprice vincenz
Oh, Brother Cole, I am so sure that some readers are tired of this Burris/Reid story, and I am also so sure we can all understand that tiredness: whenever it comes to Reid/Pelosi, the news is awful. Before the election, their odd cowardness was normally buried beneath the pile of Bush Incompetence/criminality. Now, they’re not just in the way, they’re retard obstructionists. I enjoy the Reid/Pelosi saga stories because I hope that, after a hundred or so more occurrences, someone might suggest replacing Reid/Pelosi with non-Villager types, but that, of course, is as painful a thought as is each scorching acid indigestion inducing story about the Majority Leader and the Speaker.
Just Some Fuckhead
But what was the most likely alternative scenario? If Democrats kept quiet about Blagojevich and the Senate appointment, Republicans woulda have been screaming from every TV set about how Democrats are turning a blind eye to corruption and we need a special election, blah, blah blah.
As it was, Reid’s initial bluster prohibited the entire thing from being exploited by Republicans and now we get a good Senator that appears to be free of the taint of Blagojevich. Looks like a win-win from here.
That’s just my Slate-contrarian-view.
Brick Oven Bill
Do not forget to give Blago credit for winning over 40% of the Cook County Jury Pool. Blago is very good.
He will keep this going. This is the point where the book deal advance starts to really go up. I think Hillary got $6 million. Blago could probably get more if he plays his cards right.
monad
Reid needs to go though, he’s fucking useless. The thing is, who would you trust to replace him.
Hillary.
Oh well. Sigh.
John Cole
You can game out hundreds of alternative scenarios in how this could have played out, but that doesn;t change some basic facts:
1.) No matter what happened, the Republicans would make hay or attempt to make hay.
2.) At every junction, Reid followed the path that boxed himself in further.
3.) The principled position would have been to express an unhappiness with Blagojevich’s decision to appoint someone, but let the process take its course.
4.) There is no denying that had Reid just kept his damned mouth shut, Democrats would be in a better position than they are right now.
That is why this is such a failure of leadership. Reid took a shitty situation and, at every level, made it worse.
Comrade Stuck
Can’t believe I agree with the jsf. Must be an apocalypse sign. But I think the little show of Reid rejecting Burris due to papers not in order, was a pretty good antidote to GOP flogging the corruptocrat thing. Of course Reid didn’t plan any of it, and stepped on his tongue with his early bluster. But it came out ok in the wash, imo.
Thom
John Cole
You act as if the Rs aren’t capable of being assholes without a Dem doing it first. They may very well have fucked with the Franken seat without this. Coleman would surely have urged them to.
And:
What I thought or think of burris is irrelevant. If they had said nothing people all over the Leftoshphere, possibly even you, would have been bitching about Reid and the Dems being ballless for not stopping an obviously corrupt Blago. And if it sailed right through to Burris being seated it would have escalated to eyepopping rage – and the Rs would have feasted on it for weeks. I think you have to admit that, and then ask what the Dems could have done. Seems pretty damn simple.
And why aren’t you all pissed at Obama? He supported Reid. That’s why, again, it simply looks like Reid Rage.
Thom
And: how do you all do the reply thing, with the "@" symbol and all that?
Thom
Per my previous comment, that is just not true. the Rs would have been all over it. Notice they’ve been deathly silent on this – because Reid came out so strongly.
Just Some Fuckhead
@John Cole: OMFG.
I disagree with point 1 on degree and merit, point 2 on inability to prove the universal, point 3, in that Reid essentially did this, and point 4, he had to get out front and hardcore on the possibility of corruption.
I ain’t no fan of Reid but this isn’t really the end of the world.
Laura W
@Thom: click the gray arrow after the time stamp.
John Cole
@Thom: At the end of the header to the comment you want to reply to, there is a little arrow pointing up and to the left. Click that.
Repeat after me. The Republicans would have been all over it anyway. The reason Reid shit the bed was because he was more concerned with what the Republicans would have said than with what was legal and what was right.
Again, I can not say this enough. The Republicans were going to be all over the issue no matter what you did. Fer chrissakes, Rush Limbaugh is already blaming the Bush deficits on Obama. John Hawkins just posted the biggest mistakes of the year, and they were all Democrats. Stop basing on all of your decisions on what the Republicans are goign to do. They are going to DO IT ANYWAY.
Comrade Stuck
Well yea, that’s a given. But showing some resistance, even if the token kind, is not a bad thing to do in this situation, and generally in the world of Make Believe" which is what politics is most (or all) the time.
In this case Reid slipped on a banana peel, landed in a bowl of stupid and came out smelling like a dandelion.
Thom
@John Cole:
Now that’s just frustrating. I’m not basing it on Republican reaction – Christ, I fuck with people all the time about that. I’m simply pointing it out. And you just did that when you said "Just wait. It is going to get better. The Republicans are going to use the premise Reid had as his foundational argument against seating Buriss as an excuse to not see Franken." I base this on one simple thing: Blago should not get to appoint a Senator. I don’t want laws broken to stop it, but I sure don’t mind good political theater to get it done.
Do I concede that Reid could have done it better? Yep. But hell, he’s on my team, whether I like it or not. I’m not going to harp about it all day and help make his ability to get things done worse.
John Cole
@Thom: Thom, I am not talking baout them calling Democrats corrupt or running on every tv show and calling them corrupt, I am saying they are actually going to use Reid’s justification for not seating Buriss as an excuse to not seat Al Franken.
Got it? Because he was afraid of what Republicans would say, Reid gave the Republicans an excuse to filibuster and not seat Franken.
TenguPhule
We could only transfer the epic fail that is Reid to the GOP, they would die out in the desert.
Comrade Stuck
Doesn’t seem like he could be seated right now, at least legally.
Just Some Fuckhead
John, your titfortat-fu is very strong. However, your first point about Republicans "No matter what happened, the Republicans would make hay or attempt to make hay." seems to cast your final point "Reid gave the Republicans an excuse to filibuster and not seat Franken." as meaningless.
However, because this is your site, I’m going to let you have it both ways. If you can’t have it both ways, what is the fucking point of having your own site, amirite?
Sorry about earlier, seemed funny when I typed it. I always forget about the crazies.
Comrade Stuck
They’re everywhere!
John Cole
Ugh. One more time. Reid and company stated that Buriss would not be seated, no way no how, and the main reason they did it is because they were afraid of what the Republicans would say. Several people here have even said they had to “get out in front of the issue.”
In order to back up their bluster, they then invoked the notion that they would not seat Buriss until his credential were signed by the Illinois Secretary of State, and even today, they provided the courts overruling that as one scenario in which they would seat Buriss.
Now, they have backed down. But guess what? The Republicans are invoking the procedural rule to stage their own little fun, and promising to filibuster if Franken is seated. The governor of MI has stated he will not sign the forms until all legal challenges have been met. Thus, because Reid was afraid of what republicans will say in regards to Burris, he has now given them the pretext to deny the seating of another Senator.
Should Pawlenty refuse to sign the paper work (by law I believe he can’t in the first seven days), the only route will be for the Democrats to break the Republican filibuster, which is based upon the premises REID himself advanced, further exposing the Democrats to charges of hypocrisy.
There is a difference here. Buriss involved what the Republicans would say, Franken involves what the Republicans will do. It remains to be seen if it plays out this way, but I would expect Republicans being Republicans, it probably will.
I may be wrong here, if so, let me know.
Comrade Stuck
Forcing MN to declare war on MI. I know, I’m a pedantic smartass.
Laura W
I hated the whole post.
Hated it.
Mine, I mean.
Edited away.
Just Some Fuckhead
I already told you that you were wrong but it ain’t taking. :)
I think you make a good case for the point you are making but I don’t think Republicans needed a pretext to try and block Franken. They were already going to fight that one to the death. They have to, it’s a 225 vote margin with Coleman having had a small pre-recount lead.
Moreover, Burress will be seated and then what do Republicans have? Can they wage successful political fraticide on someone else’s "pretext"? Doubt it.
We can game out scenarios all day but our fundamental disagreement is that you think Reid fubarred the whole thing ("every step") and I think he got out of a bad hand without losing much more than the blinds.
Edit: Or maybe he won a small pot. I don’t want to back completely away from my original assertion that it’s a win-win.
Comrade Stuck
@Laura W:
I am real, reeeeal, I say. Bwaa ha ha! :)
Just Some Fuckhead
@Laura W: I saw it already and you can’t erase it from my mind. Email me offline if you want to know what it said Stuck.
Edit: Nevermind, I see you say you saw it too.
Laura W
@Just Some Fuckhead: I knew it. I know better. Oh well. I trust you two guys.
Ha.
rikyrah
The moment Blago hired R.Kelly’s lawyer, that was the signal that this was going to be nothing but drama. R.Kelly was on tape too, remember?
Someone wrote this over on a blog:
If you ask me the whole "taint" issue was simply spin used for anyone who would buy into it since they couldn’t bluff Blago. You can’t bluff a gansta! And Blago is straight gansta! As another poster said yesterday you can’t give a gangsta a loaded gun and expect them not to use it! And As Roland Martin said today they had the opportunity to strip his authority to make the decision but oh nooooooo they chose to double dog dare him!!! How you gone double dog dare a gansta?! Blago is HOOD!
Indeed he is. Reid’s an out-of-state idiot. But, Massa Michael Madigan, Speaker of the Illinois House, should have known better. He knew who Blago was. He knew what Daddy Mell had taught him on the Northside.
Reid and Speaker of the Illinois House Massa Michael Madigan, thought they could be SLICK about the special election.
And then, they got STUCK.
What has fascinated me, being from Illinois, is who has kept their mouths shut during this entire process.
Namely King Richard Daley II.
And how, the media never brings up that the Speaker of the Illinois House has been AT WAR with Blago from the moment he was sworn in, because he wants to gitftwrap the Governor’s Mansion for his unqualified Baby Girl – our current Attorney General.
maryQ
It’s only halftime, but I kinda see thins whole Burris thing working out nicely.
The Dems get to play tough and bluster about Blago and corruption, smackdown Bobby Rush when he plays the "Everybody wanna keep the black man down" card, and pretend like there is no way they are going to seat this guy, thus, depriving the pathetic GOP the opportunity to shout "corrupt!!", "politically correct!!" at them.
But, as DiFi pointed out, the Law says they must seat Burris. So, being a Nation of Laws, Burris gets seated. Burris will be a pretty decent placeholder. He is old, and has no real future to be harmed by accepting this tainted appointment, and won’t likely run to keep the seat. Now the Il Dems have two years to find and groom someone electable (Tammy Duckworth?), untainted by the scandal.
Having their cake and eating it, too.
Added bonus-Harry Reid looks looks a pathetic idiot, and he pretty much blew his wad on internecine nonsense. So I’m thinking, not long before old Harry is "encouraged" to step out of the way and let someone else take the lead. Someone who kept their head down through all this.
Comrade Stuck
@rikyrah:
Hey
The Truffle
In a weird way, it’s comforting that we have inept shlubs instead of evil bastards, no?
TheHatOnMyCat
Yeah, do we have a link for that? Because what I remember him saying, from the outset, was that they’d need to "look at whether he can be seated" or something that effect. A carefully worded statement that had, and was intended to have, no teeth whatever.
So the actual quotes on "no way, no how" would be useful. There was never any legal basis for refusing to seat Burris, that I am aware of. "Taint" is not a legal term, it means nothing, and even if it did, I don’t see any here. Unless somebody has information that Burris paid for his appointment? He hasn’t done anything wrong, and has been lawfully appointed to the seat. So he should get seated. Right? Where’s the beef?
TheHatOnMyCat
Yeah, I think you are leaving out one little detail: Outside of cable tv and a few blogs, I don’t think anyone anywhere gives a flying fuck about seating this guy one way or the other. Nor can I figure out why they should. Nor can I think of any reason, given the calamities that are headed our way, that anyone will remember that this even happened, six months from now.
mannemalon
$$
bago
Seriously, If you get out maneuvered by a guy with a beaver pelt stapled to his forehead, you are teh suck.
harlana pepper
Honestly, I’m with TheHat. I can’t seem to care. I’m struggling in this economy as are many others. I have long found Reid to be unspeakably frustrating, irritating, and flaccid. This is just more of the same and we’re stuck with the old fruit.
kay
It gets worse as long as Harry Reid keeps talking.
Now the story is that Obama interceded and forced Senate Democrats to seat Burris. A bigger lose/lose.
Bringing Blago-mess right back to Obama, who is popular, (unlike Congress) and probably should be protected from Harry Reid’s screw ups, rather than drawn into them.
What was the point of this, again? To deny the Republicans a talking point? Now they have one: Obama seated Burris.
That’s BETTER than Reid seating Burris, how, again?
jprice vincenz
The wife and I were watching Maddow two nights ago when she or one of her guests said that Burris had a "taint"… Maybe we’ve just watched the old episodes of Mr. Show too many times, but I don;t think I would say that word on television in any context.
PS: "It’s Insane, This Guy’s Taint" is the relevant episode. View it here:
http://www.milkandcookies.com/link/41968/detail/
John Cole
Yes, I have a link. Reid was definitive- “no way, no how” is my terminology, here is Reid’s actual statement:
Pretty clear cut. I laughed when Jane suggested that day that Blago was playing a game of chicken, I am laughing now.
thomas
Bago – the beaver pelt – way good.
An early comment suggested that Blago would not be impeached. Way wrong. The Illinois leg will not be able to face the voters in ’10 if the guy is still in office. He’s toast on that one. As far as being nailed by Fitz goes, that’s a ‘we’ll see’.
gbear
I agree that Reid has botched this thing completely, but appointing Burris to the position was a giant screw you to everyone. When Burris was running for governor, he fought to keep an innocent man on death row. Burris is a slimeball and Blago thought this would be a great kissoff as he went down. It’s ugly from every viewing angle.
patrick
@oh really:
Amen! I wish Russ woulda run for president…..
maybe in 10 years or so we can have the pleasure of seeing Al Franken as majority leader. I think that would be real entertaining….
Surly Duff
I know, I know, I’m late to this game, but apparently my other two tries disappeared into the internet ether. So here goes, one mo’ ‘gin.
disagree that Reid’s response somehow swayed public opinion. However, Reid’s response did make the sitaution worse for himself and the Dems, and it is playing itself out poorly. Of course, this was a tough situation, but Reid decided to follow a strategy that will ultimately make Reid and the Dems look like pushovers –
1. Vehemently argue that you will not seat Burris under any circumstances, cause since Blagojevich is corrupt, any pick must be "tainted" ;
2. Move to vagueness – "we will do whatever we have to do" (whatever that means).
3. Change positions to state that Dems are willing to "negotiate" over the appointment of the pick you originally referred to as "tainted".
4. Finally acquiesce and allow the seating of the appointment because you have no legal standing to prevent it.
Because they started at point one and will ultimately end up at #4, the Dems will look ineffective and weak. This is why Reid is so infuriating. He never thinks past point #1 and ends up flailing around and becoming mealy-mouthed and wishy-washy like he was on MTP this weekend.
Instead, Reid and the Dems could have ended the discussion at the beginning simply by stating the facts, but making Burris look more like an opportunist than a respectful public servant. But they would rather cast aspersions about Mr. Burris and posture about how they will refuse (REFUSE I SAY!) to seat him, although they have no legal recourse to prevent it. Why not say – Although we are distruaght that Gov. Blagojevich has chosen to appoint a Senator while still under investigation for corruption and subvert democracy by attempting to sell a Senate seat, the appointment is legal and cannot be prevented by the Senate. Mr. Burris has not been implicated in any corruption and has been a public servant for XX years and unfortunately his reputation has been unfairly called into question because of his appointment by a corrupt governor. Unfortunately, Mr. Burris has chosen to accept this appointment from a governor, who is plagued by scandal and corruption, and is more interested in continuing to wield power than provide the people of Illinois with a n honest and scandal-free government. Because of the concerns surrounding any appointment made by Gov. Blagojevich, once Mr Burris is legally seated in the Senate we will neither make him chair of any committee in the Senate nor will he hold any position of importance during the length of his appointed term.
Although the last part is typically meaningless, wouldn’t something along the lines of that have cut any discussion about the Dems being weak off? Maybe I am wrong, but the current situation is just a mess and will only become worse.